Noteable changes to the Gillard 2012 ‘Jobs’ Ministry

Health will be lead by rising star and Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek. Ms Plibersek is a young mother of three (youngest is a baby) who hails from the Left Faction. She is noted for her grace and diplomacy as well as passion for social justice. Tanya leaves her Social Inclusion and Housing portfolios. She will be joined by Mark Butler (from SA and convenor of the Left Faction) who adds to his Ageing portfolio with Mental Health and Social Inclusion and will also join cabinet. PM says this addition is to ensure health priorities are strengthened along with mental health and agedcare reform at the highest level of government. As well, Mr Butler will be tasked with ensuring social inclusion considerations are recognised across all portfolios.

Other key appointments include the promotion of Senator Mark Arbib (NSW Right Faction) to Assistant Treasurer and minister for Small Business. Soccer mad, he keeps his sport portfolio.

Climate Change Minister, Greg Combet (former ACTU supremo and qualified engineer) adds Industry and Innovation. Mr Combet is regarded as the Mr Fixit of government.

Another rising star, Bill Shorten (Victoria, Right Faction ex AWU) now has Employment and Workplace Relations. He has also been tasked with broadening the government’s thinking on workplace relations including the fair work act changes. He keeps financial services and superannuation.

Former Health Minister Nicola Roxon will be Australia’s first female Attorney General with a key priority to defend the government against the legal action by ‘big tobacco’ following her plain cigarette packaging laws.

Former Innovation Minister, Kim Carr (Left Faction, Victoria) is now minister for Manufacturing and Defence Materiel – with synergies across the portfolios.

Former Attorney General, the genial Robert McLelland (Right faction, NSW) now has emergency management and public and private housing – very apt since he has just bought a new house.

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Head of Public Affairs and Senior Strategic Counsel, Jacquelynne Willcox

Photo credit: Dunechaser